I am Groot, the new series of animated shorts coming to Disney Plus, is coming out soon, and here’s everything we know about the plot, cast, and release date so far! I am Groot is part of the bonanza of content coming to Guardians of the Galaxy fans over the next year. This summer, Groot and the rest of the Guardians will be playing a significant role in Thor: Love and Thunder, due out July 8. Then, the Guardians will return in the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special this December before starring in Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, premiering May 5, 2023.
With Groot being such an incredibly popular character in the MCU, it’s no wonder that the little guy has been chosen to star in his own series of shorts. In the first Guardians of the Galaxy, Groot was a huge, lovable galoot who sacrificed himself to save his friends. After he was reborn as a wee seedling, audiences have been watching Groot grow up all over again. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Groot was a tiny baby who literally got kicked around by the Ravagers but still did his best to help save the day. In Infinity War, Groot was a sarcastic teenager obsessed with video games, but he showed that his moral compass was still strong when he provided the handle for Thor’s axe Stormbreaker by growing his own arm around the blade. Groot has always been besties with Rocket Raccoon, and Rocket was heartbroken when Groot got blipped along with half the universe.
So what will Groot get up to in his own series of adventures?
The Plot of I am Groot
According to Marvel, the series will follow “Baby Groot’s glory days growing up, and getting into trouble among the stars.” It’s not much to go on so far, but we can still tease out a few clues about the show’s basic plot.
The fact that Groot is still a baby means that the series takes place roughly around the time of Guardians of the Galaxy Part 2. How do we know that the shorts take place during his second round of growing up, instead of his original childhood? Because if you look closely at the new poster that Marvel revealed, you see that Groot is listening to Peter Quill’s walkman.
The poster reveals some other charming details, too. Groot is relaxing on a beach towel in the flower pot in which Rocket planted his remains after he was killed in the first Guardians of the Galaxy. Groot is wearing shades, listening to one of Peter’s Awesome Mixes, and sipping a drink. But wait! There are tiny aliens hiding behind the air freshener he’s using as a palm tree! Groot has always had a somewhat bumbling, happy-go-lucky attitude, and it looks like that’s going to play a big part in I am Groot. You can tell this little guy is going to get himself into trouble.
Who’s In the Cast?
So far, the only confirmed cast member in I am Groot is Vin Diesel, who utters Groot’s iconic line: “I am Groot.” It’s unclear whether we’ll see any other Guardians in the series, or whether it’ll feature any cameos. The shorts might just focus on Groot himself.
If so, that could make for an interesting dynamic in the show. For most of Groot’s screen time, we’ve seen him partnered with another character. In Guardians of the Galaxy 1 and 2, he always hung out with Rocket, and in Infinity War, he was partnered with Thor on their mission to Nidavellir to have Eitri the Dwarf make Thor a replacement for Mjolnir.
In any case, Diesel is sure to have fun with the role, even if he doesn’t have the rest of the usual cast to bounce his only line off of. In a 2014 interview with The Guardian, Diesel revealed that he relishes the challenge of portraying Groot:
“It appealed to the thespian in me. You’re talking about a very challenging character to pull off. How could you really create a whole character with three words? To really bring the emotion and chart the arc.”
When Does I am Groot Come Out?
I am Groot will drop on Disney Plus on August 10, 2022. Stay tuned for more details!
(image: Marvel)
